Prologue
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GAMBLING OTHER THAN betting on horse races or the government-sponsored Thai lottery is prohibited in Thailand. The prohibition dates back to the Gambling Act of 1935. The Playing Cards Act prohibits private ownership of over 120 playing cards without the government's approval. Nevertheless, illegal gambling on cards in casinos and other forms of gambling still exists in Bangkok and some provincial towns. In fact, in almost every village and city in the Kingdom of Thailand, a game is taking place right now.
Gambling has long been a feature of Thai society. Local Siamese partook in over 100 well-known gambling games. Some gambling, such as betting on cockfights, bullfights and boat races, is native to Siamese culture.
The late 19th century marked a significant increase in gambling in Siam. People gambled more frequently, foreign traders and immigrants introduced a variety of games, and gambling hit the mainstream. During that period, the Huay lottery from China became popular in Siam.
They still draw it today. The lucky numbers are picked twice monthly in the state and the illegal underground lottery.
Over the decades, the Government of Thailand allowed legal gambling dens. During the reign of King Rama III, the Government promoted legal gambling as a source of revenue. These legal dens were then closed down to dampen criminal activity and bankruptcy related to gambling. During the reign of King Rama V, gambling was forbidden in the South, and all the remaining gambling venues were closed on 1 April 1917.
A gambling act was first passed in 1930 and revised in 1935. During Khuang Aphaiwong's premiership, the government assigned the Ministry of Finance to legalise gambling in Pranburi District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province.
Pranburi is the nearest town south of Hua Hin, just the flick of a card away. He became an official promoter of gambling. However, this period of the legalisation of casinos did not last long. Under attack from the media and the public, the government abandoned the attempt to earn additional revenue from casinos and prohibited gambling once again.
Casinos, often protected by the police, flourished.
Despite laws against gambling, illegal casinos are widespread in Thailand. They established the first large-scale gambling houses in Ayutthaya by the government in the late 17th century or early 18th century because of the steady growth of the Chinese population. During the 19th century, the number of gambling houses grew in tandem with the population of Chinese immigrants. To promote the settlement and taxation of the Chinese population in Thailand, the Thai government disregarded gambling among Chinese immigrants. As a result of this inadvertent endorsement, local Siamese people were also encouraged to gamble. After the Gambling Act was first passed in 1930, casinos were banned altogether, and it prohibited gambling in Thai society.
Social behaviour is critical to Thais, even extending to gambling. There has long been a proscription against gambling within Thai society. In Buddhism, gambling is one of the four vices which lead to ruin. In Thai, they know this concept as abaiyamuk, the portals of hell. For the layperson, gambling is something to be avoided if one wishes to be free from suffering. Thai people often cite a proverb, 'Ten lost to fire is not equivalent to one lost in gambling', which reflects the variety of social problems associated with gambling in Thai culture. This may include violent crime, financial problems, and gambling addiction. Despite the prohibition, gambling remains a significant part of Thai life.
Thais often gamble in various ceremonies and festivals. According to Alan Klima's study of funeral casinos in present-day Thailand, gambling is used as an attraction for people to keep the deceased spirit company.
For a visitor to Thailand, it is quite a shock to see open gambling today. But only at funerals!
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GAMBLING OTHER THAN betting on horse races or the government-sponsored Thai lottery is prohibited in Thailand. The prohibition dates back to the Gambling Act of 1935. The Playing Cards Act prohibits private ownership of over 120 playing cards without the government's approval. Nevertheless, illegal gambling on cards in casinos and other forms of gambling still exists in Bangkok and some provincial towns. In fact, in almost every village and city in the Kingdom of Thailand, a game is taking place right now.
Gambling has long been a feature of Thai society. Local Siamese partook in over 100 well-known gambling games. Some gambling, such as betting on cockfights, bullfights and boat races, is native to Siamese culture.
The late 19th century marked a significant increase in gambling in Siam. People gambled more frequently, foreign traders and immigrants introduced a variety of games, and gambling hit the mainstream. During that period, the Huay lottery from China became popular in Siam.
They still draw it today. The lucky numbers are picked twice monthly in the state and the illegal underground lottery.
Over the decades, the Government of Thailand allowed legal gambling dens. During the reign of King Rama III, the Government promoted legal gambling as a source of revenue. These legal dens were then closed down to dampen criminal activity and bankruptcy related to gambling. During the reign of King Rama V, gambling was forbidden in the South, and all the remaining gambling venues were closed on 1 April 1917.
A gambling act was first passed in 1930 and revised in 1935. During Khuang Aphaiwong's premiership, the government assigned the Ministry of Finance to legalise gambling in Pranburi District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province.
Pranburi is the nearest town south of Hua Hin, just the flick of a card away. He became an official promoter of gambling. However, this period of the legalisation of casinos did not last long. Under attack from the media and the public, the government abandoned the attempt to earn additional revenue from casinos and prohibited gambling once again.
Casinos, often protected by the police, flourished.
Despite laws against gambling, illegal casinos are widespread in Thailand. They established the first large-scale gambling houses in Ayutthaya by the government in the late 17th century or early 18th century because of the steady growth of the Chinese population. During the 19th century, the number of gambling houses grew in tandem with the population of Chinese immigrants. To promote the settlement and taxation of the Chinese population in Thailand, the Thai government disregarded gambling among Chinese immigrants. As a result of this inadvertent endorsement, local Siamese people were also encouraged to gamble. After the Gambling Act was first passed in 1930, casinos were banned altogether, and it prohibited gambling in Thai society.
Social behaviour is critical to Thais, even extending to gambling. There has long been a proscription against gambling within Thai society. In Buddhism, gambling is one of the four vices which lead to ruin. In Thai, they know this concept as abaiyamuk, the portals of hell. For the layperson, gambling is something to be avoided if one wishes to be free from suffering. Thai people often cite a proverb, 'Ten lost to fire is not equivalent to one lost in gambling', which reflects the variety of social problems associated with gambling in Thai culture. This may include violent crime, financial problems, and gambling addiction. Despite the prohibition, gambling remains a significant part of Thai life.
Thais often gamble in various ceremonies and festivals. According to Alan Klima's study of funeral casinos in present-day Thailand, gambling is used as an attraction for people to keep the deceased spirit company.
For a visitor to Thailand, it is quite a shock to see open gambling today. But only at funerals!
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